On our trips to the Andean highlands of Peru and Bolivia, we'll meet many spinners and weavers in their villages. We'll be able to watch them working at their spindles and looms, and learn their traditional techniques. In some villages, weavers use handspun and hand-dyed alpaca to make beautiful contemporary objects like purses, bags, and placemats; you'll have a chance to buy items directly from the makers when we visit the villages.

Easter in the Andes: March 29 - April 12, 2012

with Nancy J. Thomas, renowned knitting expert and Cynthia LeCount Samake, Andean textile expert.

For their own use, Andean weavers favor factory-spun synthetic fibers, creating ponchos and carrying cloths called awayos or lliclas, in brilliant colors. Before weaving the yarns, they often overspin the fiber to eliminate the fuzz, ensuring crisp, clear motifs in the finished item; see photo of Bolivian highlander below, wearing a striped manta with bands of star-like motifs.